Speedometer-drive for automobiles.



C. H. GRAFT.

SPEEDOMETER DRIVE FOR AUTOMbBtLES. APPLICATION man OCT. 2. 1912.

1,1 34, 1. Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a6 a I] WITNESSES BY I ATTORNEY c. H. CRAFT. s'pseoommn omvs ma AUTOMOBILES. AFF LICATION FILED OCT. 7,1912. 1,134,591, Patented Apr.6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

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cnnnnncn nonrouomifi'ior vmomowx, PENNSYLVANIA, assrenon or ONE-HALF- I To Zen-En 'A. CLOSE.

srnnnomnrnn nmvn ron -Au'romonms.

1,134,591. l Specification of Letters PaZt'ent. Patented Apr 6,

- 1 I Application filed October 7, 1912. Serial No. 724,457.

To all whom it may concern: ing, it being customary to employ two such Befit known that L'Omnmvon H. CRAFT, a pleces. I citizen of the United States, residing at By the present invention the steering. Uniontown, inthe county of Fayette and knuckle and spindleis provided with a pas- 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new sageway which may in greater part be axi and useful Speedometer-Drive for Automo: ally to the spindle, and is then continued: bllS ,xOf which the following is a specificathrough a connecting boss formed on the tion. i V I knuckle, and in this passageway there is This invention has referenceto improvelodged a flexible shaft havingat one end a 10 nintsin driving meansior speedometers esdevice by means of which the dust cap of the pecially in connection with aut'omobiles, hub of the steering wheel carried by the 5 although having an extentfofl nse in other spindle 1 s connected to thefiexible shaft. connections, as, for instance, for speed indi- This flexible shaft need be only long enough I eating mechanism for other movingdevices to be continued to the boss on the knuckle,

15 thanautomobiles or for actuating other inwhich boss'is designed to receive a coupling dicating structures than speedometers Smce, holding the usual fleXible enve-Iep'for the however, the invention is intended primarily flexible shaft carried tothe speedometer aml.

foitli' actuation of a speedometer from under such circumstances that end of the 1 one of the fore wheels of an automobile, the flexible shaft connected bythi's envelop to the 2,0 following description will be restricted to boss on; the knuckle is provided with a such use and arrangement without limiting coupl ngmember joining a corresponding the invention strictly thereto. coupling. member-at that end of the short It is customary to place a speedometer on" section of flexible shaft housed in the spindle the dashof the automobile within ready and knuckle- By this -means the knuckle 25 view of the operator and such speedometer is may be disconnected from the axle without almost universally actuated through a flexidisturbing the connections between the 30 hleshaft connected up with gearing, in turn speedometer and the steering wheel further driven by one of the fore or steering wheels than uncoupling the two parts of the flexible of the vehicle, so that'therotating movement shaft by theinncoupling of the envelop from 30 of such wheel will cause the actuation of the the boss on the knuclzle; Where the flexible speedometer, while the flexible shaft pershaft continues in one piece through the mits the steering movements of the wheel spindl'e khuckle and protecting envelop to without interference. The gearing usuallfQthe speedometer, a greater amount of disemployed, or such ashas been fromtimeto mantling is required, if it be desired to re 35 time proposed, is cornparatively expensive move the wheel spindle and knp gr e;.;ronr"""' tomanufacture,especially in the case of cut thetaxle. In either case thee'transmission is gearing. --Moreover, such gearing is condirect and gearlessg frfim the steering Wheel stantly liable to injury and is subject to to the speedometer and the'driving parts are "wear, since it is constantly exposed to ac-. g tinelyinclosed in a practically dustproof 40. cumulations of dust and 'dirt and sometimes 'passage,so that wear from ,foreign matter j tothe destructive action of stonesmrother finding access to the parts is practically comparatively large articleslodging in the eliminated. p teeth ofthe gearing f The invention will be best understood By the preseiitnvehtion not only is the from a consideration of'the following de- 45 first cost6f the "structure very materially tailed description. taken in connection with reduced, but the liability of wear or injury the accompanying drawings forming apart such as found in exposedgearing is wholly of this specification, with the further undereliminated. standing that while practical forms of the Bythe present invention all gearing vbeinvention are illustrated in the drawings,

50 tween an automobile-fore or steering wheel the ,said invention is susceptible of other and. the speedometer 'is wholly eliminated, practical embodiments, whereforeit is not '105 and the drive is direct either by way of'one limited to any exact conformity with the continuous piece of flexible shafti ng, or by a showing of the drawingsv but} may be plurality of coupled pieces of flexible shaftchanged and modified so. longas such j in spindle removed from the axle; ig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but showing a mod-- "ified form of the'inve'ntion. Fig. is a displayed perspective View of the coupling means for connecting a flexible shaft lim- .ited to the spindle and knuckleto a continuing flexible shaft extendinggtoth'e speed-Q ometer. Fig. 6 is anelevation of the dust cap looking into the same firom the rear.

Referringto the drawings, there is shown k'Referring to the drawings; there is shown a portion of an axle 1 such as is customarily ,employed as the front axle oi an automobile. This axle is shown as of standard form, but such form may be varied in difierent ways Without affecting the present invention, since.

. the invention has nothing tp do with the type of axle employed. fln the structure shown the axle terminates in 'spaoedbearings 2, 3 for a steering knpckle 4, which so far as its shape is concerned may follow the usual practice, and a bolt 5 traverses the bearings 2 and 3 and knuckle 4 to hold: the I knuckle in lace and permit such rocking movement t ereof as is found-necessary in the operation of steering. It is customary to limit the movements of the knuckle about its axle support to definite extents, and this may be done by lugs 6 on the knuckle 8.1".

ranged to engage a lug 7 on the axle. More'- over, the knuckle is provided with an operating arm 8, so that it may be turned upon its pivot support oraxis bmechanism such as is customarily employs inautomobiles, such mechanism extending to the steering wheel.

} Moreover, the knuckle 4. has projecting therefrom about ate point midway between its two ends a spindle Qdesigned to receive a hub 10 carrying spokes 11 forming the spokes of one of the steering wheels. at f The parts so far described are such as are ffdund upon many types of automobiles, and may be taken as typical of parts having like functions in all ty es of automobiles. It may be stated that w ile in some automobiles .5.5 arms 8 project as indicated in Fig. 2, which is toward the front of the vehicle, in other automobiles the arm 8 projects toward @the rear, and in Fig. 2 the arm 8 is shown as .qiextending toward the front simply for conlvemence of illustration, since it might be otherwise confused with parts to be descriliedvif extended toward the rear.

' On oneside of the knuckle 4 adjacent the point of its connection with the spindle 9 there is formed on the knuckle a boss 12 knuckle and a portion which when the knuckle and spindle are in place upon an automobile projects upwardly or downwardly and rearward-1y at an angle to the longitudinal axis (if the spindle. Ex-

by a gentle curve to and through the boss 12 which latter at the outer end is reduced in -e ternal diameter and 'there formed into a screw threaded nipple 14 having its interior counterbored, as indicated at 15, to a larger diameter than the bore 13. The outer end of the spindle 9 is prolonged as an externally threaded nipple 16, axially through which the bore 13 extends, and at the outer end this vnipple 16 is counterbored, as indicated at17, to a larger diameter than the bore 13. The

nipple 16 is designed to receive the usual nut 18 and the hub is exteriorly-thrcaded for the application of a dust cap 19, which dust cap in general construction may follow the usual practice, but on the inner face of the dust cap at the center thereof there is formed an axially projecting stud 20, or this stud may be made fast to the dust cap in any suitable way, while the end of the stud re mote from its point of connection-with the dustcap is formed with an entering slot 21, so that the free end of the stud is in efi'ect bifurcated.

That end of the bore 13 '0 ening into the counterbore 17 may have a bushing 22 applied therto, in which bushing there is mounted a stem 23 terminating at one end in an expanded head 24 adapted to the counterbore 17 and projecting centrally from this head is a tongue 25 of a size to take into the slot 21 in the stud 20,.so that when the parts are assembled the rotation of the dust cap 19 with the steering wheel will cause a like rotation of the stem 23 through the connection formed by the entering of the tongue 25 in the slot 21 of thestud 20. k I

Connected ,to that end of the stem 23 re mote from the head. 24 is one end of a flexible shaft26 which may be in the formyof a in connection with s eedometers and the like. In the form of the invention illus trated ii /Figs. 1 and Q the flexible shafting is shorter than the length of the bore 13 and at the end remote from the stem23 carries'a block 27, best shown in Fig.- 5. This block is of non-circular contour and is preferably rectangular in cross section. There is provided a socket member 28 adapted to the bore 13 immediately adjacent the counter- .bore 15, and this socket member has a socket 29 for the reception of the block or plug 27. The socket'member 28 is formed at one end helical springof suitable size, such as is customarily employed in flexible shafting used with a head adapted to'the counterbore fingers 32 on a head33 carried by one end of ried by the stem 37 and is made of suitable p 26 connected thereto and of a length to exof common construction no showing of the speedometer has been made and only a short boss 12. When the parts are so coupled up some variations in the length of the bore '13 mean, is:

15 and this head has an entering slot 31 I I adapted to receive diametrically spaced cident to the presence thereof.

all gears or trains of gears are avoided and the expense incident to their produ'ctionand mounting is eliminated.

The present invention may be installed 'upon an automobile at but a small fractibn of the cost of speedometer drive mechanisms now almost universally employed, while the cost'lof upkeep is reduced to practically nothing so far as the effects of wear are concerned.

What is claimed is v 1. A gearless speedometer drive for automobiles comprising a steering wheel knuckle a stem 34 to which is attached one end of a flexible shaft 35, which latter may be of sufficient length to be connected up to a speedometer upon the dash of the automobile with in ready view of the operator, but since such flexible shaft connection and speedometer are section of the shaft 35 is indicated in the drawings. The shaft 35 is inclosed in a flexible casing 36 as is customary, and this casing terminates in a coupling sleeve shaped to receive the head and stem 34, while a rotatable coupling member 38 is carpassage extending from the outer end of dimensions to engage the nipple 14 of the one side of the knuckle or support, a flexible v shaft structure extending through the passthe fingers 32 enter the slot 31, so that the socket member 28 and shaft35 are connected I port, andmeans for connecting the flexible for simultaneous rotation. To allow for shaft to a steering wheel onthe spindle.

2. A means fol-transmitting motion from and counterbores 15' and 17 the socket receptacle 29 of thesocket member 28 may extend completely therethrough and through the head 31, so that under some circumstances the hlock or plug 27 may extend between the fingers 32 without interference.

In Fig. 4 the stem 23 has a flexible shaft ometer mounted on the automobile comprising a spindle for the steer ng wheel and a having a passage extending longitudinally k'le or support and out one side thereof, a

.tend to the speedometer. The only difference between the form shown in Fig. 4: and that shown in Fig. 2 is that the coupling between the shafts and 20 is omitted, ztnd th shaft 26 isiof suflicient length a) take the place of the shad3,35. llhes nodiflcation shown in Fig. 4 whileexhibiting parts has not the advantageof ready disnfitiitling of the structure shown in Fig. 2, and hence, the structure of Fig. 2 has certain advan- A tages over that of Fig. 4.

, It is customary to form the knuckles and spindles as one integral forging, and while the parts are being subjected to the forming operation, the spindle may be related to the knuckle somewhat as indicated in dotted lines at 9 in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the boss 14 andspindle 9 are then in line one with the other and the bore 13 may be produced by a straight drilling tool of appropriate size. After suclrbore is produced the parts may be again treated to the forging operation to bring a spindle 9 into the desired relation to the knucklet, and under these circumstances it will be found that the bore 13 has assumed an appropriately gentle curvature within the spindle and knuckle, so that no sharp turns are present to in terfere with the proper operation of .the flexible shaft 26 and the lattermay be installed in the spindle and boss 12 in a manner to operate advantageously, and at the having a coupling memberfor connecting the wheel to the flexible shaft.

ea steering wheel of, an automobile to a speedmeter, a wheel spindle and'knuckle or supshaft housed insaid passage. p

4. In aWne'ansfor transmitting motion from a steering wheelof an automobile to a speedometer, a spindle for the wheel and a knuckle or support for said spindle having a curved passage extending through the spindle and out at one side of the knuckle said passage.

5. In a means for transmitting motion from a steering wheel of an automobile to a or support and a spindle provided with a sageway in the spindle and knuckle or sup-1 a steering Wheel of an automobile to a speed-.

flexible shaft extending through said passage, and a dust cap for/the steering wheel In means for transmitting motion from port therefor provided with a passage extending through the spindle and out at one side through the knhckle or support between,

the. ends thereof, and a flexible transmission or support, and a flexible shaft housed-in I same time be. free from, liability of, cont-am;

ination withfldust and dirt and thewear'in Moreover,

the spindle through the same and'throug-h knuckle or support therefor, said spindle therethrough and continuedzinto the knuc-,;

speedometer, a steering knuckle and "wheelilZ Q 40 through the spindle and knuckle term1nat-,

terbored portion of the passage at the other end thereof and provided with separable connections with the corresponding end of the flexible shaft.

6. A means for' connecting a steering wheel of an automobile with a speedometer, comprising a steering knuckle and spindle thereon. with a passage extending lengthwise of the spindle and out through one side of the knuckle, the knuckle being provided at the pointofexit of the passage with an exteriorly threaded'nipple, a flexible shaft seated in the passage and extending to the end thereof corresponding with'the free end of the spindle and there provided with a coupling member, a coupling member adapted to an automobile wheel mounted on' the spindle and connecting with the flexible shaft, and. a flexible shaft casing having" means for connection to the nipple at the 7 side of the knuckle.

7. A means for the trlmsn'nssion of motion from a steering wheel ofg'an automobile to a speedometer comprising ajsteeringi wheel knuckle and spindle having a bore extending through the spindle and out one side of the knuckle, and a flexible shaft ada' ted to seat in the bore, said flexible she and a removable coupling at the other end.

8. A means for the transmission of motion from a steering wheel of anautomobile to a speedometer comprisinga steering wheel knuckle and spindle having a bore extending through the spindle and out one side of the knuckle, and a flexible shaft adapted to seat in the bore, said flexible shaft having a coupling member atone end and a removable coupling at the other end, the bore ing in counterb'ored portions of larger diameter and this coupling members being each provided with a head adapted to seat in the respective counterbore, and said heads having means for connection With the ;wheel and with the s eedometer,respectively.

9, A means or transmitting motion from" a steering wheel of an automobile to a speedometer comprising a steering knuckle and spindle support for the wheel, the spin dle and knuckle having a, passage extending in part axially through the spindle from weasel having a coupling member at one end the free end therof and thefi' tcnnved and er side of theiknuckle opening through on and there provided with a; threaded nipple, the terminal ends 'ofgthre bore being counterbored, a flexible shaft mounted in the bores and having terminal coupling portions mounted -in the counterbored ends of the bore, one coupling member being separable from the shaft, adust cap for the steering wheel having a coupling member adapted to the corresponding coupling member of the flexible shaft housed in the spindle, and a flexible shaft adapted to extend to the speedometer and provided with a protecting flexible casing having a coupling adapted to the threaded nipple at the side of the knuckle; and the second named flexible 'shaftlhavinglmeans for coupling it to the coupling atthe corresponding end of the first-named flexible shaft.

10. In operating mechanism of the character described, the combination of an axle spindle havin a longitudinal bore,-said.bore bin .diverte laterally from the axis of the .spin e and opening at its'rear end laterally from the axispf the spindle, a hub, a

1 flexible shaft entering the bore and extend ing rearwardly, and means for connecting the outer end of the flexible shaft with the end of the hub, so as to be rotated thereby to operate a speedometer, substantiallyas set forth.

11. The combination with'an abile spindle having a longitudinal bore extending thiough thegsame, the rear end of the bore being curved, a hub mounted on the spindle, a shaft journaled in the spindle, and means for connecting the outer end of ,the shaft with the hub so as to be rotated thereby, of

a flexible shaft for operating the spe'edom: 'eter, having one of its ends attached to the "shaft in the spindle at a pointlinside of the";v

spindle whereby the .flexibledshaft rotates V within the, curved portion 0f,jthe bore of the spindle, substantially as sety forth.

' In testimony, that I claim "the foregoing 1 as my own, I have hgretealiixed my signs-- ture in the presence of two. Witnesses.

CLARENCE,HORTON CRAFT. Witnesses.

H. W. FRANKS, EWING A. HIBBS. 

